The Xinjiang regional government has made pledges to workers of all ethnic backgrounds that they will enjoy the rights to choose their career freely and that they will all work under equal working conditions, Xinjiang regional government spokesperson Xu Guixiang said at a conference on Friday. The conference was held ahead of the International Workers Day, all known as May Day. The regional government has also vowed stringent measures to crack down on violations of laws about workers, including forced labor.

Xu said that the Xinjiang regional government has also been devoted to improving working environment for the people, cultivating a positive corporate culture so that workers can work comfortably there.

Li Juan, an official from the Standing Committee of the Xinjiang regional people's congress, said at the conference that Xinjiang has also implemented laws to protect peoples rights. She said that in line with the law, the region has actively cracked down on forced labor and that any violators will be held accountable.

She also said that the regional government has been educating employers and employees. The government also conducts regular inspection on forced labor violations.

Chen Qiang from Xinjiangs regional labor security supervision said that for those who violate labor laws, they will be subject to punishment including revoking their business licenses, suspending their production and being held accountable.

He said that workers are also encouraged to report any misdeeds from their employers.

Jiang Jie from Xinjiangs labor dispute arbitration court said that the region has 110 such courts to handle disputes between workers and their employers. Its process is totally open and in accordance with laws, said Jiang, noting that 97.2 percent of labor disputes in the Xinjiang region were resolved by the end of 2021.

Chen Qi from Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences said that legal rights of workers in Xinjiang are well protected. For example, workers from different ethnic backgrounds or regions are free from discrimination, their rights to vacations are also well protected, they can take days off in holidays such as Nowruz, Eid al-Adha and Spring Festival, he said.

Global Times